Water-heating apparatus.



G. H. GIBSON. WATER HEATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION rum) $321.7, 1909.RENEWED JULY 22, 1911.

1,002,144. Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

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Q a Q a 3?; D E, 1 @2 S 1:: HI IH H WIT ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA I'LANOGRAIIIC0,. WASHINGTON n. c.

STATES GEORGE I-I. GIBSON, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0I-IARRISON SAFETY BOILER WORKS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER-HEATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

Application filed September 7, 1909, Serial No. 516,462. Renewed July22, 1911. Serial No. 640,015.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. GiBsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Montclair, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tater-Heating Apparatus,of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to apparatus for heating water which is to beused in the boiler of a locomotive or other steam engine and its objectis to provide an apparatus of this character which is simple inconstruction, which permits of economical operation by the utilizationof heat contained in exhaust steam and which may be constructed atcomparatively low cost.

The apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention is ofparticular utility in connection with the supply of water in railroadroundhouses for washing and filling the boilers of the locomotives. Forthis purpose it is desirable that a supply of water be maintained at atemperature of 212 F. so that the least possible time will be consumedin putting a locomotive in condition for service.

In accordance with the invention an apparatus is provided with whichsuch a supply of water may be maintained and with which the heat unitsin exhaust steam and in steam blown off from a locomotive, in emptyingthe latter, can be utilized for heating the filling water for thelocomotives. The water blown off from a locomotive is not used for thispurpose since it contains impurities ren dering it unsuitable forfurther use, but the steam in the blow-ofi of a locomotive is separatedfrom the water and utilized as a heating medium. This steam is utilizedin one tank to raise the temperature of water in that tank and theamount of this water will of course vary in accordance with the numberof locomotives whose steam is discharged therein. A second tank is alsoprovided having therein means for heating the water utilizing for thispurpose exhaust steam from stationary engines and other apparatus whichmay be in use at the plant; The water admitted to this second tank isdrawn from the first tank and is therefore water in the first tank isreduced below the J outlet opening and the level of the water in thesecond one fallsv to a predetermined point, water will be automaticallyadmitted to the second tank from a suitable source of water supply,preferably without passing through the first tank.

The invention also contemplates the pro vision of a source of supply oflive steam to the tank or heater containing the filling water and meanswhereby this live steam connection is automatically opened when steam isrequired in the heater and sthe supply of exhaust steam is insutficient.In this way a supply of filling water, at the desired temperature, isconstantly maintained and this supply is replenished by water drawn froma second supply heated by steam blown off from a locomotive; and in casethis second supply is not available, the supply of filling water will bereplenished by Water drawn from a cold water main. In combination withthese devices, means are provided for supplying washing water at atemperature of approximately 130 F, by the employment of a heater towhich steam and cold water are admitted, the amount of steam admittedbeing automatically regulated so as to raise the temperature of thewater to the desired point.

I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention in theaccompanying drawings which show the apparatus employeddiagrammatically.

Referring to this drawing, a water heater is shown at 1, this having achamber in the bottom thereof of a size suflicient to store.

that the steam will be condensed by the water and the water will take upthe heat units in the steam. The steam is admitted to a heater through apipe 3 and if desired an oil separator 4 may be inserted in theconnection between pipe 3 and heater 1. The pipe 3 is designed to carryexhaust steam to the heater 1 from stationary engines and otherapparatus which may be in use at the plant; as this supply of exhauststeam may not be at all times sufficient to heat water admitted toheater 1 to a temperature of 212 F., I have provided an additional steamsupply pipe 5 connected to the heater 1 at 6 and arranged to carry livesteam to the heater from any suitable source. It is desired that thepassageway through live steam pipe 5 be opened only when an insufficientsupply of steam is carried to the heater by the pipe 3 *and I thereforeprovide a pressure-reducing valve 7 in the pipe 5 which will open andclose automatically in response to changes of pressure within theheater.

A second water heater and storage tank is shown at 8, this tank being ofany suitable construction and so arranged that steam may be admittedthereto in order to heat the water contained in the tank. In the drawingI have shown a pipe 9 running along the side of the tank 8 at the bottomthereof, and a plurality of connections 10 whereby steam passing throughthe pipe 9 may be carried to the interior of the tank 8, within which itwill rise through the water in the tank and impart its heat to thewater. The pipe 9 is arranged for connection to the boiler of alocomotive so as to receive the steam blown ofi from the boiler inemptying it, a separator being provided in order to permit the steam toenter pipe 9 and preclude the blow-off water from passing through thepipe. The heater and storage tank 8 is provided with an exhaust pipe 11having a relief valve 12 therein so as to relieve against excessivepressure within tank 8.

A cold water supply main is shown at 13, this being connected to theheater 8 by pipe 14 and to the heater 1 by pipe 15. In the pipe 14 forcarrying cold water to the heater 8 is a valve 16 operated by adiaphragm within a casing 17, this casing being in communication withthe interior of tank 8 so that valve 16 will operate in direct responseto changes of pressure within tank 8.

A pipe 18 connects the heater 8 with the heater 1 and in this pipe is avalve 19 operated by a float 20 within the heater 1. In the pipe 15connectingthe cold water supply pipe with the heater 1 is a valve 21operated by float 22 within the heater 1, the float 22 being at asubstantial distance below the float 20. Tater for filling the boiler ofa locomotive may be drawn from the heater 1 through the pipe 23.

A heater for heating cold water to a temconstructed will now bedescribed.

perature which will make it suitable for use as washing water is shownat 24, this being connected to the cold water supply pipe 13 by a pipe25 and the latter having a handoperated valve 26 therein. Steam iscarried to the heater 24 from the live steam pipe 5 by a pipe 27 and inthis pipe is a pressure-- reducing valve 28. In the pipe 27 is a secondvalve 29 operated by a thermostat 30 which projects into the heater 24or the pipe 31 leading therefrom. This thermostatically controlled valveis so arranged that it operates in direct response to the temperature ofthe water flowing through the heater 24 and is set so that it willpermit so much steam to be supplied to heater 24 by pipe 27 as isnecessary to heat the water passing through the heater 24 to the desiredpoint.

A valve 32 is provided in the pipe 14 for carrying cold water to thetank 8, additional to the valve 16, its function being to cut off 85.the supply when tank Shas been filled to a predetermined level; for thispurpose valve 32 is arranged to be operated by a float 33 in the tank 8connected to the valve by suitable links.

If desired, the steam pipe 27 for carrying steam to the heater 24 may beconnected to the tank 8 as shown at 35, so as to draw steam for theheater 24 from the tank 8 if there is steam available in that tank. Thepipe 18 is preferably connected to the tank 8 at a point considerablyabove the bottom of the tank so that there will be a supply of water intank 8 at all times from which steam may be drawn into the heater 24 ifthe temperature of this water has not fallen too low. I have also showna checkvalve 34 in pipe 18 to prevent steam from passing from tank 1through pipe 18 to tank 8 when valve 19 is open and no water is passingthrough pipe 18.

The operation of the apparatus as thus Cold water is supplied to theheaters 8 and 1 by pipe 13, the water passing into the tank 8 wheneverthe pressure within that tank is sufficient to open the valve 16-andfloat 33 has opened valve 32; the steam creating this pressure issupplied to heater 8 by pipe 9 and consists of steam blown off from alocomotive; this steam rises through the water supply ipipe through thepipe 15 to the heater 1. The normal level of the water in heater 1 isthat shown in the drawing and if the level falls below this, float 20will open the valve 19 so as to permit heated water to pass from theheater 8 through the pipe 18 to the heater 1. If at any time the levelof the water in heater 1 falls so as to open valve 19 and the water inheater 8 is below the entrance of pipe 18 into tank 8, the supply ofwater in heater 1 will not be replenished, and, on further use, thelevel will fall until finally the float 22 is operated. This opens thevalve 21 and cold water is admitted from the supply pipe 13 to theheater 1. The float 22 is located a substantial distance below the float20 and the level of the water normally varies between these two floats;the water normally supplied to the heater 1 is the heated water drawnfrom the heater 8, but if ever the supply of heated water from heater 8fails and sufficient water is drawn from heater 1 to reduce the levelbeyond the normal range, the float 22 will be operated to admit coldwater to the heater 1. The water stored in the heater is alwaysmaintained at a temperature of 212 F. and this heating of the water willbe effected by the exhaust steam if the latter is sufficient in quantityand temperature to effect this; but if ever the supply of exhaust steamis insuflicient for this purpose, steam will be admitted to the heater 1from the source of supply of live steam, the pressure of this steambeing suitably reduced by the pressure-reducing valve 7. A,

When it is desired to wash a boiler the valve 26 may be turned on so asto admit cold water to the heater 24 and the passage of this waterthrough the heater will cause steam to be drawn from the heater 8 or thelive-steam pipe 5 through the pipe 27 to the heater 2 1 in suflicientquantity to raise the temperature of the water passing through theheater 24 to that which is desired.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a water heater, means for supplying steam andwater thereto, a second water heater, means for supplying steam thereto,a connection between said heaters, means operated automatically when thelevel of the water in the second heater falls to a predetermined pointfor opening said connection, and means operated automatically when thelevel of the water in the second heater falls to a lower point forsupplying water to the second heater from a source other than the firstheater, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a water heat-er, a steam connection thereto, meanswithin the heater for employing steam to heat water admitted to theheater, two floats in the heater, a hot water tank connected to theheater, a cold water supply pipe connected to the heater, both said tankand said pipe being adapted to supply water to the heater to be heatedby said means, means operated by the upper of said floats forcontrolling the passage of water from said tank to the heater, and meansoperated by the lower of said floats for controlling the passage ofwater from said cold water supply to the heater, substantially as setforth.

3. The combination of a water heater, means for supplying steam thereto,a water supply pipe connected to the heater, a second heater, means forsupplying steam thereto, a pipe connecting said heaters, a valve in saidpipe, a float in said second heater adapted to operate said valve, asecond float in said second heater and at a lower level than said float,and means operated by the last-named float for automatically controllingthe admission of water to the second heater from a source other than thefirst heater, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a water heater, means for supplying steam thereto,a water supply pipe connected to the heater, a second heater, a pipe forcarrying exhaust steam to the second heater, a live steam pipe connectedto the second heater, a pressure-reducing valve therein, means operatedautomatically when the level of the water in the second heater falls toa predetermined point for permitting the passage of water from the firstheater to the second, and means operated automatically when the level ofthe water in the second heater falls to a lower point for permitting thepassage of water'from the supply pipe to the second heater,substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a water heater, means for supplying steam thereto,a water supply pipe connected to the heater, a valve in said pipeoperated in response to changes of conditions within said heater, asecond water heater, means for supplying steam thereto, means operatedautomatically when the level of the water in the second heater falls toa predetermined point for permitting the passage of water from the firstheater to the second, and means operated automatically when the level ofthe water in the second heater falls to a lower point for permitting thepassage of water from the supply pipe to the second heater,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a water heater, means for supplying steam thereto,a water supply pipe connected to the heater, a valve in said pipeoperated in response to changes of conditions within said heater, asecond water heater, means for supplying steam thereto, a pipeconnecting said heaters, a valve in said pipe, a float in the secondheater operating said valve, a pipe connect- This specification signedand witnessed ing the Water supply pipe to the second this 20th day ofAugust, 1909.

heater a valve in said pipe a float in said 7 7 second heater at a lowerievel than said GEORGE GIBSON float operating said valve, and a pipe forWitnesses: Withdrawing the Water from the second D. S. EDMONDS, heater,substantially as set forth. J. A. YOUNG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, 'byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

